Major trolling over at Politico...

...good grief...

Look, I’m a little confused here—the resident moral guardians seemed pretty worked up because, in the middle of an election cycle, I happen to be taking shots at their precious little party...

To be clear, when I was calling out the Republican Party as a reactionary outfit, I wasn't actually insulting anyone I was talking to—I wasn't throwing epithets around. My stance was based purely on the facts—specifically their coalition with Mexicans at both the state and local levels—not to mention the way they've been sucking up to Vučić over the last few days...

But honestly, setting all that aside, it was actually pretty hilarious watching the individual in question flip-flop the second I pointed out the fact that calling the Democratic Party kmer or communists doesn't actually bother him one bit...

Anyway, let’s get down to brass tacks...

1. How much longer is this site going to allow clone accounts of users who were permanently banned? People who are literally using the exact same handles and personas that got them kicked off in the first place...

2. And how long is direct trolling going to be tolerated? You know, where someone jumps into a thread about XY just to take the opposite side for the sake of it...

We have a perfect example right here, where this specific user trolls every single thread regarding the Republican Party—though if there were a similar case involving the Democratic Party, I'm sure it would go unpunished... so, is that trolling or what?

(which also applies to the general trolling issue)

Then there's the general-purpose trolling:

I could find dozens of examples like these...

And finally, my personal favorites—pure ad hominem attacks and straight-up insults that ignore the actual topic entirely:


Since you guys claimed I was being "labeled" and "provocative" just for discussing the Republican Party—even though I never labeled any fellow posters the same way I label the party itself—how is this being handled?

So—what am I? A provocateur, a party sycophant, and so on...

I won't even start pulling posts where people are called "party foot soldiers," "acolytes," and things of that nature...

Every single instance of labeling a person or provoking them happens simply because someone touched a nerve regarding their beloved party...

Let me repeat: I'm talking about labeling the *people*, not the political party...

Oh, and one more thing—how long are you going to let these wannabe pundits label anyone who doesn't share their views as "Democratic Party supporters" (along with all the usual derogatory names)?

How long will mass spin, trolling, and insults against anyone pointing out the lies of KGK be allowed? Like when she was caught in that blatant lie claiming 40,000 refugees would enter the US in just two days...

Just so I can explain it to the clueless crowd: "k" is shorthand for kilo, which means a thousand and then some. As you've claimed before, it's not some foreign slur; it's part of the international metric system—literally a prefix...

The saddest part is...

All these posts were reported—some multiple times. Some of these entries were being posted constantly even while the moderators themselves were active on the thread, during the exact same timeframe...

I’m just curious—how is it that the local moral police, who get all worked up whenever someone takes a swing at the Republican Party (only to suddenly act all high and mighty once their own hypocrisy regarding the Democratic Party is exposed), can't seem to pull these specific examples together? Is it just more of the same old hypocrisy at play here?

Respectfully submitted...

Oh, and one more thing...

How does it work that when I post in a thread asking why trolling is being tolerated—without even naming a single moderator directly—I end up with 35 points, yet when someone explicitly insults me, they only get 30?

Since the forum mods seem to be sticking to the age-old tradition of ignoring problems in the hopes they'll just vanish into thin air, I’m going to go ahead and ask these questions again:

How much longer is this same old crew going to be allowed to hijack threads with trolls from the opposite side of the political spectrum—just because they can't actually win an argument?

And seriously, when are we going to stop seeing clones of banned users riding all over the politics section?

Adam Collins4 said:Yeah, well, when are we going to see all those banned clone accounts riding the political bandwagon?

Look, we can't just ban people without actual proof. You haven't given me anything but a bunch of hunches.

Oh, I’m certain of it—mostly because I know from some pretty solid sources that even the moderators over at Reddit know exactly what's going on behind the scenes...

But they stay dead silent... while everyone else gets banned or hit with a permanent strike just for mentioning how the mods operate...

It’s honestly the absolute bottom of the barrel...

If you dare criticize the moderation, that's a 35-point penalty; if someone insults you, maybe you get 30...

And seriously, how much longer is this going to last? How long can the same handful of accounts jump into threads about the Republican Party or Karamarko to troll with mentions of Milanović and the Democratic Party every single time a fact comes up that doesn't fit their narrative?

Is that actually allowed?

You seem to be struggling with how the points system actually works.

Commenting on moderation is a violation of the sub's rules and carries a 30-point penalty.

Trolling—which generally includes mild insults—comes with 35 points.

More serious insults directed at other users result in 45 points.

In the last five months, you haven't picked up a single infraction under those specific rules, so I won't dwell on it, but this really is quite enough...

Look, sorry, but you clearly don't get what constitutes trolling or what actually gets flagged here, and you seem to be rejecting the rules despite being told repeatedly how things work. You’re more than welcome to your opinions, but that doesn't change the rulebook. No matter how much you try to explain it away, calling the Republican Party a "fascist organization" or anything along those lines is strictly prohibited. It’s against the rules, plain and simple, and you’ll keep getting flagged for it regardless of how much you argue...

Personally, I couldn't be further from the Republican Party in terms of my own politics, but every time you post something like that, it earns a strike, and you'll keep receiving them for posts like that.

Regarding those specific posts you're calling "trolling" (those first five links), none of them qualify as trolling in my eyes, and I wouldn't have handed out a strike for any of them either.

Most of the other links you sent are just unnecessary because the user in question has been flagged numerous times already—sometimes we just issue cumulative strikes. Besides, you aren't getting flagged for every single comment that calls the Republican Party "fascist." Anyway, other users aren't the subject here, so you've picked a completely flawed example.

Then there's this one: which I personally would have flagged, though it isn't such an egregious insult that it demands an immediate ban, so it really just depends on how strict the moderation tends to be on that particular thread...

It’s not like there's any rule against using slurs for the Democratic Party whenever those right-wingers start posting on certain threads, yet you guys won't even step in to issue a warning or a ban.

I won't even get started on how people are being prosecuted for hate speech, while the folks constantly making personal threats just get a pass.

Either actually be consistent with the rules, or just stop pretending this place is moderated altogether.

Adam Collins4 said:Yeah, I am. Especially since I know from some pretty solid sources that even the moderators over at Reddit know all about these situations.

Am I really such a reliable source as a moderator here that you're actually taking my word for it when I say I don't know? 🤔 😬

lonebadger6 said:You clearly don't get how the point system works.

Criticizing the moderators is a violation of the sub-forum rules and carries a 30-point penalty.

Trolling—which generally includes mild insults—carries 35 points.

Directly insulting other users is 45 points.

In the last five months, you haven't even picked up a single infraction under those specific rules. I won't go any further, but this is more than enough.

Well, obviously I do...

If calling out moderator incompetence is treated almost the same as insulting someone's family, then your "standards" are truly top-tier...

lonebadger6 said:Look, sorry, but you clearly don't grasp what trolling actually is—or what counts as trolling here and gets penalized—and you're refusing to play by the rules, even though you've been given plenty of answers. You’re entitled to your opinion, sure, but that doesn't change the rulebook. You can argue all you want, but calling the Republican Party a "pro-establishment party" or anything along those lines is against the rules. It's forbidden. And you'll get a warning every single time, no matter how much you write about it or act shocked.

Personally, I couldn't be further from being a fan of the Republican Party, but every time you post something that breaks the rules, you're getting a warning—it's earned, and you'll keep getting them for posts like that.

As for those posts you're labeling as "trolling" (those first five links)—none of them are trolling, and honestly, I wouldn't hand out a warning for any of them either.

Most of the other links you sent are just pointless, mostly because the same user has been flagged countless times—sometimes you just get hit with a stack of warnings at once. It's not like you're getting a warning for every single "Republican Party is pro-establishment" comment you make. Regardless, other users shouldn't be the focus here, but you've picked a completely wrong example.

Then there's this one: which I personally would flag, but it isn't some massive insult that demands immediate action—it really just depends on how strict the moderators are being on that specific thread.

If we define trolling as basically anything that disrupts a normal discussion...

...then please, continue trying to explain to me how disrupting a conversation isn't trolling. For instance, if someone starts a thread about Josipa Rimac and you jump in talking about how she loves folk music, and then suddenly a bunch of "defenders" swoop in to start bashing someone from the Democratic Party or some other group, claiming they also love folk music...

What else is that if not a targeted attempt to derail the topic and hijack the conversation?